Posted by Scharff stifles public hearings
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Feb 8, 2013 at 11:04 am

It's ironic that Scharff and Klein claim that fair and transparent public hearings are what stifles democracy.

Scharff has a pro-development agenda. He is putting rules in place that allow him to silence Council Members who do not share his values. Those who favor his outcomes unfairly get extra time for questions and comments. As Mayor, he controls the agenda, he works closely with city staff to make his desired recommendations, and then he minimizes the public discussion of other perspectives. This is not democracy!

The quality of a decision should not just be measures by the time it takes or the number of words. Outcomes should be judged by the soundness of the decisions and the cost/benefits for the City, including taxpayers!

Posted by Scharff and Klein
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Feb 8, 2013 at 2:05 pm

Scharff is a real estate attorney and has worked for a major national developer.
Klein is a trust and estate attorney, helping the rich safeguard their wealth.
That's where their values are, nothing hidden about it.